Is Nuvigil a narcotic like Aderrall?

I was approved for Aderrall, but learned it was a narcotic. After more research, I see that it is basically pharmaceutical grade amphetamine. A friend suggested Nuvigil, but didn't know if it was a narcotic. I know people on Aderrall and some of them act just like meth heads. One friend went from 195 pounds to 150 in under six months. He's six foot five inches and looks like, well, a meth head. I'm trying to avoid medicine like that. I suffer from narcolepsy and it has gotten worse. Any help about Nuvigl would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Responses (4)

Nuvigil is classed as a narcotic however Adderrall is a schedule 2 narcotic, which is on the level of morphine, dilaudid etc. Nuvigil is a schedule 4, on a level with ativan and xanax. It does not carry as many side effects nor does it have weight loss as one. With narcolepsy, you require a stimulant to be able to function right and you have to weigh the benefits with the side effects, and Nuvigil is worth a try. Your friend could be on too much adderall or he just doesn't respond well to it. His situation with medications doesn't have to be yours. Why don't you look up Nuvigil side effects and see if you can live with them? Here's a web site for you on it. Keep in mind that you may not have any of the side effects and it might return your life to normal. http://www.drugs.com/sfx/nuvigil-side-effects.html

First of all adderall is not a class 2 narcotic it is a controlled substance my husband and my son was on it for years there is a big Difference.. You do have to show a valid ID when picking up adderall because it is a controlled substance not a narcotic. I am also on nuvigil it is neither a narcotic or a controlled substance. That comes straight from the horses mouth my doctor.. Just so you know I'm not trying to be a smart alec I'm just giving you the information that I got When I inquired about the same exact matter. Thank you have a good day :)

DEAR WILDWHATEVER--- Your pretty stupid and your dr as well. Nuvigil IS a controlled substance - note the red sticker on the side of your bottle. I would change doctors if he prescribed this to you and didn't know what kind of drug it is.

Dear wvlittleone--- Your pretty stupid and your dr as well. Nuvigil IS a controlled substance - note the red sticker on the side of your bottle. I would change doctors if he prescribed this to you and didn't know what kind of drug it is.

I have taken Nuvigil for hypersomnia. It did not make me lose weight and did not speed me up like an amphetamine. It is a slow release formula so is gradually dispersed in the blood stream throughout the day and I found it to work very well. My insurance company decded after I had taken for a year that they would no longer pay so I had to switch to Provigil, similar to Nuvigil though without the time release. I liked the Nuvigil much better.

I just want to add, for anyone who comes later, that Nuvigil can be abused and it can also create physical and mental dependency. My doctor told me it was "mild" and "not habit forming" when he first prescribed it for idiopathic hypersomnia and chronic fatigue. But after a few weeks, the prescribed dose quit working and I had to raise it. That happened over and over and I became very addicted to it. So I decided it was time to stop. When I stopped, I fell into a severe depression and severe fatigue - way, way worse than before I started it. It was more damaging to me than actual amphetamines.But everyone is different and this reaction to the drug isn't that common, I don't think. But I wanted to give you fair warning anyway, just in case. I didn't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. Nuvigil took three years of my life before I could finally get off it for good.

Nuvigil and Provigil are considered controlled substances. They are scheduled in the same class as hydrocodiene. Which means it can be called into pharmacy. Provigil was the first of this type of medications. Not a lot of insurance companies cover these 2 medications and sometimes a prior authorization is needed. There is a generic out now for the provigil but not for novigil. These are in a similar class to amphetamines but they are metabolized differently. With Amphetamines like adderall and vyvanse you have to have a paper prescription signed by the doctor. Amphetamines can't be called in. For ADD there's other types of medications that aren't stimulate type drugs. Wellbutrin, strattera and intuniv you can discuss with your doctor if you don't want to take the stimulant type medications or you've tried them and you didn't like or work for you. Keep in mind that all medications don't always work the same for everyone.

Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.